Fourth installment! It's going to get really good from here on out, I promise! I'm excited to hear your thoughts!
Disclaimer: JK Rowling
Chapter Three
Harry and Draco practically fall on top of each other, landing once again in the wet marshes that lay outside of the Burrow. Harry gets off of Malfoy instantly, his jeans and shoes completely soaked. Malfoy takes a little longer, being weaker than Harry. Once he is upright, and his eyes focus on the Burrow his eyes widen and his cheeks lose what little color they had.
"Oh, no fucking way. You can not be serious. You ignorant little prick, Potter! I can't stay here!" Draco exclaims, his eyes full of prejudice and hatred. It takes all of Harry's self-control to keep from slapping the look off of Malfoy's face. "You're right, I could've left you to die in the streets of India. In fact, I'm kind of wishing I had," Harry says coldly, shoving Malfoy out of the way and stomping up to the Burrow. He has no earthly idea how he's going to explain the situation to the Weasley's, who Harry knows is going to be infuriated when they realize that he brought a Malfoy with him.
Malfoy, though extremely unwilling, follows Harry, uttering a stream of obscenities under his breath. Harry, unable to stop himself, casts a Silencing Charm over Malfoy, effectively shutting him up. Harry approaches the front door, and takes a deep breath. He gives Malfoy a once-over, and decides to take his wand. Harry expects a fight, seeing as Malfoy is just as good a wizard as Harry was, but Harry is able to Disarm him easily. Perhaps Malfoy didn't want to put up a fight, or perhaps he was just drained of all energy.
Harry sighs himself, preparing for the onslaught, and opens the door. At first, the Weasley's don't notice Malfoy, and welcome Harry back, giving him claps on the back and asking if he's hungry. And then Mrs. Weasley sees Malfoy. Her happy demeanor disappears, and a look of pure rage takes it place.
"YOU!" she screams, lunging at Malfoy, with her wand pointed in his direction. Malfoy, unsure of what to do, can only stand still, not able to say anything, with a panicked expression on his face, and Harry casts a Shield Charm between the two. "Mrs. Weasley!" Harry cries, holding her back, her fingers clawing at Malfoy. The other Weasley's seem to be too stunned to move, but Harry can see Ron out of the corner of his eye, and he is not happy.
"Mrs. Weasley! Just let me explain, will you!" Harry cries over Mrs. Weasley's shouts. Harry groans, and casts another Silencing Charm over all of the Weasleys. When it's finally nice and quiet, Harry lets go of Mrs. Weasley, but makes sure to stand between Malfoy and her. He isn't doing this to protect Malfoy, no, but just to keep Mrs. Weasley from killing him. Okay, so maybe he was protecting Malfoy.
"I'm not going to tell you why, because it's none of your business, but Malfoy needs to stay here. I promise that if he steps one toe out of line you can do whatever you want to him, but until then, no harm shall come to him. Do you understand me?" Harry explains. Mrs. Weasley, still fuming, glares at Harry, but relaxes. "He sleeps in the garden," she spits, before spinning on her heel and disappearing into the kitchen.
The rest of the Weasley's file out, knowing better than to question Harry. Ron, however, lingers. Harry looks back at Malfoy, who's expression is actually quite comical. Harry releases the Silencing Charm, and Malfoy takes a few steps back. Ron can't help himself, he has to say something.
"You brought a Malfoy here? He as good as destroyed this place, what with his Death Eater cronies and such," Ron says, glaring at Harry. Malfoy steps forward. "Excuse me, Weasley, but I want to be here almost as much as you want Voldemort to come back. Trust me, I'd much rather be stuck in Azkaban," he says. Ron makes a go at Ron, but Harry holds him back. "Well then maybe you should drag your racist little ass down there, then!" Ron shouts. Malfoy is about to say something back, something probably infinitely worse, but Harry shuts him down. "Just go to the garden, Malfoy! And stay there until morning, please!" he shouts. Malfoy wants to stay, but instead he shuts his mouth and sulks to the garden, where Harry can hear him muttering to himself and kicking the magnolias.
Hope he has fun sleeping with the gnomes, Harry thinks to himself.
"Well he bloody well can't stay here forever," Ron says through his teeth, stealing dirty glares into the back garden, where Malfoy was emerging from the shed, looking dirty and underfed but well-slept. Harry turns his head to see what Ron was seeing, and then turns back, leaning in closer, and whispering.
"I know that, which is why I was just going to drag him back to Hogwarts with us," Harry explains. Ron looks at Harry, and then sits back in his chair. "Well, good luck convincing him to go," he says. Harry crosses his arms. "I convinced him to come here," he remarks. Ron doesn't respond. Harry finishes his eggs, and then gets up to go outside to Malfoy. He grabs a plate of food before leaving. Harry turns the corner and sees Malfoy looking up at the sun. His eyes are closed, and he seems to be breathing it in. Harry clears his throat and Malfoy jumps about a mile. "Merlin, Potter, it's not polite to sneak up on people," he says. Harry gazes at him.
"Yes, because you're an expert on what is and isn't polite, Malfoy," he says, thrusting the breakfast at Malfoy. Malfoy doesn't know what to say, but takes the food. "There are clean clothes in the laundry for you. Get dressed, and then get ready to go shopping," Harry informs Malfoy. Malfoy almost chokes on his bacon. "Shopping? With the Weasleys? You've got to be joking. I'm not going anywhere with them," he says. Harry, who is finding it harder and harder to keep his temper with Malfoy, clenches his fists.
"We're going to Diagon Alley, to get our school supplies," Harry says. This time Malfoy really does choke on his bacon. Harry watches as Malfoy sputters and catches his breath. "We're going back to Hogwarts?" Malfoy says, his face contorting into a fearful expression. Harry can't help but feel a little sorry for Malfoy. But his sorrow vanishes completely when Malfoy twists around the sleeve on his left arm hitches up. Harry catches a glimpse of the Dark Mark, and for a second his stomach drops and he has to catch himself from falling. But Harry doesn't say anything to Malfoy, because he knows there is no way to remove it, at least not permanently.
All Harry can do is mentally remind himself to give Malfoy a long-sleeved shirt for Diagon Alley.
"Goodbye, my dearies! Have a wonderful time!" Mrs. Weasley calls out to Ron, Harry, Hermione, and the others. She saves no kind words for Malfoy however, who is busy trying to avoid the stares and ignore the whispers. He hasn't seen any of his old Slytherin friends, and can't stand the fact that people are talking about him. He isn't his father after all, and it isn't his fault he was on the wrong side.
Harry waves to Mrs. Weasley as the train pulls away from the station. He backs away from the window, and gives one final glance at Malfoy. "Go, be with your Slytherin people. You don't need to hang around me anymore," Harry says. Malfoy nods. "My pleasure, Potter," he says in his normal, snarky voice. Malfoy skirts past a few terrified third-years and into a compartment. Harry is relieved to finally be rid of him, and all thoughts of Draco Malfoy, including the mysterious newspaper clippings, disappear like a wisp of smoke in the wind. Harry is with his best friends and going back to his true home. Nothing could dampen his mood.
Not even Draco Malfoy.
